Concerns With Freezing Bananas

When a banana gets too ripe and you still haven't found a use for it, freezing is a useful option. One concern about freezing bananas is that a thawed frozen banana doesn't taste the same as a fresh one when you peel and eat it. For any other use, though, frozen bananas work just as well as fresh ones. They keep for months and can be used in almost any recipe that calls for bananas.

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Peeling Frozen Bananas

When freezing bananas, you can either leave the peel on or take it off. The biggest advantage of leaving the peel on is that the peel prevents freezer burn. The peel will turn dark brown, but underneath, the banana will stay fresh. If you do peel your bananas before freezing them, put them in a plastic bag or wrap them in foil.

Freezing Bananas For Smoothies

Many people use frozen bananas in smoothies. Frozen fruit eliminates the need for ice, which waters down the drink. It is also easier on a blender than ice is. If you want to freeze bananas for a smoothie, peel them and cut them into slices, then store them in a sealed plastic bag. This method reduce the preparation time for the smoothie.

Pureeing Frozen Bananas

Many recipes call for mashed or pureed bananas. It is difficult to mash a frozen banana with a fork as you would a fresh one, so you'll need to put them in a blender to puree them. It helps if you cut the bananas into chunks before you freeze them. Pureed frozen banana also makes a delicious cold treat.

Thawing Frozen Bananas

Frozen bananas take about 2 hours to thaw naturally, according to Favorite Freezer Foods. If you need to thaw the fruit right away, put it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes on the defrost setting. You can cut frozen bananas before or after you thaw them, though they are somewhat easier to handle when thawed.